Raven: Trickster, Creator, Duet partner, Reminder

Ravens awake me here. They nest in the spruce above the house. All day long the young one calls to his parents reminding them he's there and hungry.

Reminding me to be attentive to my work.

Apparently the first bird that Noah released from the ark was a raven, who flew back and forth, drying up the waters with the smooth flapping of strong, dark wings, drying the land so the olive branches emerged for the dove to find.

Haida people believe that Raven discovered the first people hiding in a clam shell, and fed them berries and salmon. I like both myths.

I'm just happy to hear and see them on my last few days in Santa Fe. They're comfortable with me and I with them. For great info on ravens read Berndt Heinrich's Mind of the Raven. They are intelligent, fascinating creatures with a complex social structure.

Hoping to get the two sculptures fired today, though I'm pushing the odds with the second one. "Duet: Raven" is ready for the kiln. "Trio" would be fine if I were home and firing it myself. Strange to be at the whim of someone else's schedule, although my time at Santa Fe Clay has been productive, pleasant and informative.
Paintings will travel back to Vermont and continue to grow and change.
This has been a great residency time of focus and replenishment.

Have been reading Ghost Ranch by Lesley Poling-Kempes. Fascinating story of the adventurous women (and men, but mostly bold women) who set out to discover the wild west and fell in love with this raw, vivid part of the world.